Spindle City Ballet Junior Company brings 'Peter and the Wolf' to the stage

Wednesday

Mar 19, 2014 at 9:00 PM

The classic children's tale gives the Junior Company dancers a chance to take on solos.

Linda Murphy Lifestyle Editor @HNFastFood

FALL RIVER - A group of talented young ballerinas will have a chance to show off their skills this weekend as Spindle City Ballet presents “Peter and the Wolf.” And for the first time in the esteemed ballet company’s history, the production will be stage entirely with dancers from the SCB’s Junior Company, said Artistic Director Lisa Bibeau.

“They all have many years of experience and they all dance three to five days a week, not counting the rehearsals,” said Bibeau. “These are kids who really want to dance, and they’re devoted to their studies.”

The Junior Company dancers, ranging from 12 to 15 years old, auditioned for the production of the childhood classic musical last fall.

Written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936 as a way to introduce youngsters to orchestra instruments, “Peter and the Wolf” is accompanied by a narrative. For this production, Bibeau said they’re using Leonard Bernstein’s narrated album from 1960 with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. “It’s a real user friendly ballet for children and grown-ups — people can follow and understand it clearly,” said Bibeau. “It’s one of my favorites.”

The ballet, with three hunters and a small cast of characters, also gives the Junior Company dancers a chance to take on solos. “It’s a big deal for them. All the characters are soloists with the exception of the hunters,” added Bibeau.

Elizabeth Griffin, 15, a sophomore at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School, will be tackling the role of the wolf in the classic children’s tale, and Elizabeth Rousseau, 13, a eighth-grader at Somerset Middle School will be dancing as Peter.

This is the second solo for Rousseau, who had a solo role as Clara a few years ago in SCB’s “The Nutcracker,” but this time around she has the challenge of dancing as a male character.

Rousseau, who has been dancing since she was 5 years old, also studies modern, tap and jazz at Spindle City. The challenge for this production, she said, is retraining herself to dance as a male. “As a girl, it’s harder to act as a boy. You have to be more grounded,” she said, adding the storyline also requires her to respond in different ways from what she’s used to doing in other ballets.

Like the rest of the dancers in the Spindle City Ballet’s Junior Company, she has been rehearsing about 8 hours a week for this show, but she also spends another three to four hours a day, four days a week taking dance classes and working with younger students in classes. “It’s a lot of fun,” she added of the rigorous schedule.

Griffin is also logging in about 20 hours a week between her regular classes (ballet, jazz and modern dance) at Spindle City and rehearsals for the show, but like Rousseau, she’s dedicated and said she doesn’t mind the hard work. Though she’s danced in other SCB productions as part of ensemble, this will be her first time in a solo role as the Wolf. “In the ensembles I wasn’t a character, but with this role I get to have a bit of a personality,” she said, adding the acting aspect is more of a challenge than the dance.

The production also features Stephanie Dessert, of Rehoboth, as the Duck; Madeleine Douglas, of Fairhaven, as the Bird; Emma Becker, of Tiverton, as the Cat; Meili Sicard, of Rehoboth, as the Grandfather; and Maya Joncas, of Assonet, and Fall River residents Tess Kfoury and Kristin Lavoie as the hunters.

Costumes are designed by SCB’s longtime costume designer, Sara Good. “Peter and the Wolf” is sponsored by the Fall River Cultural Council and Mechanics Cooperative Bank. Bibeau said audience members will also have the opportunity to dance with any of the cast members after the show in an audience participation segment.

Spindle City Ballet will present “Peter and the Wolf” on Saturday, March 22 at 1 and 3 p.m. and Sunday, March 23, at 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults; $15 for children and seniors. The ballet will be presented at the SCB Studio Theatre, 288 Plymouth Ave., Fall River. For tickets, call 508-536-6073 or visit spindlecityballet.org.